Water-level-indicating system and apparatus.



A. B. WALTON.

WATER LEVEL INDICATING SYSTEM AND APPARATUS.

APPLTCATION FILED DEC.18, 1909.

Patented Feb. 22,1916.

ALLYN B. WALTON, OF LORAIN, OHIO I wATER-IEVEL-INDICATING SYSTEM ANDAPPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 22, 1916.

Application llled December 18, 1909. Serial No. 533,947.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALLYN B. WALTON,

a citizen of the United States of America,-

and a resident of the city of Lorain, county of Lorain, and State ofOhio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inW'ater-Level-Indicating Systems and Apparatus, of which the following isa specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,forming a part thereof.

My invention relates to improvements in water level indicating systemand apparatus,

Thus, a system depending upon the use of a float, or of unsubstantialapparatus which may be subjected to the violent action of the water inthe tank or bilge, will be found under ordinary sailing conditions to beinadequate and unreliable, even though well adapted for service uponshore. Accordingly, my purpose has been to provide thoroughly practicalmeans for equipping a vessel, so that the readings or measurements maybe positively obtained under all conditions, and may be simultaneouslysecured in the wheel house, engineroom, the captains room, or in otherplaces about the vessel, as required.

' In my Patent 1,049,952 dated Jan. 7, 1913, I have illustrated meansfor securing these results. In the present application, I have adaptedsaid means'to improved apparatus of my invention operating byelectricity with mercury-contact appliances therefor.

Referring first in a preliminary way to the apparatus and system of myinvention, I may state that Within the several water ballastcompartments, or within the bilge of the vessel are provided pipes,perforated from below, to permit the flow of water.

Connected respectively with the tops of said pipes are suitablemercury-contact devices. preferably operated by the air pressure withinthe upper portions of the pipes.

These contact devicesmay operate against balanced columns ofmercuryalone; one of which in turn immerses the electrical contacts orresistance wires, or an unbalanced condition may be obtained by causingthe mercury to operate against partial vacuum, or compressed air, tosecure corresponding variation in the readings, or the operatingair-pressure may be varied.

Connected with said contact devices in multiple relation, is a suitablesource of electrical energy, and at the points where the readings are tobe made, there are positioned in potential circuit therewith, suitablycalibrated electrical measuring apparatus and switches, or manualcontact mechanism for establishing circuit with the respectivemercury-contact appliances of the tanks.

Preferably this switching apparatus takes the form of a diagram board,whereon the various compartments of the vessel are correspondinglyindicated by a manual contact or switch, and the measuring apparatuspositioned immediately adjacent,'will indicate the different waterlevels. Suitable means are provided for readjustingthe apparatus fromtime to time; the details of all the foregoing being more fullyexplained in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure Iis a diagram illustrating my system as applied to four compartments ofsteamships, for indicating at two different points the water levels inthe various compartments. Fig. II illustrates as partly broken away andin section, the preferred mer-- cury-contact device and one of theconnecting pipes. Fig. III shows the preferred form of switching orcontact making mechanism, in association with a calibrated measuringinstrument, which apparatus I may term the diagram board, and Fig. IVshows a modified mercury-contact appliance.

Throughout the several figures of the drawings, I have employed the samecharacter of reference to indicate similar parts.

Certain structural details in the drawings will first be explained, andthen by the aid of diagrams, the complete system of my invention will bemore readily understood. Since the apparatus of my invention must besubjected to severe working conditions, I have sought first to equip thevessel so that the simplest apparatus, suitably protected may be used,and its operationwill not be interfered with by the pitching or rollingof the vessel, and the movement of the Water within the severalcompartments. Accordingly, the several contact appliances may befavorably positioned and suitably protectedor bulkhead, in the differentcompartments of the vessel.

Connected with each of the said mercury contact-appliances, are circu twires leading to suitably calibrated 1nd1- cating apparatus andswltching mechanism.

for connecting any of said electrodes with a source of electric currentor currents. Accordingly, the indicating apparatus may be duplicated andplaced in the various positions of the vessel, as required. Primarily,these positions are in the wheel house and in the engine room, so thatthe pumps controlling the water in the various tanks may be under theintelligent supervision of the commanding oflicer and chief engineer.The importance of this cannot well be over estimated, to vesselsequipped with water ballast compartments adapted for trimming thesteamship under conditions of shifting cargo, rapid loading, or varyingweather conditions.

Referring now to the drawings, the pipes a are provided with openings atnear their bases, and are respectively positioned in the variouscompartments wherein the water levels are to be indicated. Associatedwith each of said pipes, is a mercury-contact appliance hermeticallyconnected, or in other words, sealed in air-tight relation with the topsof said pipes, substantially as shown in Figs. II or IV.

The latter contact appliances comprise a U-shaped -tube t of insulatingmaterial, wherein is positioned a balanced or substantially balancedcolumn of mercury m in either limb. The righthand limb t isconnectedlwith the pipe a, while the left hand limb t, preferably isprovided with a restricted opening t through which the mercury isadapted to flow, and with an expansion or compression chamber tcontrolled termined pressure, or may be partially exhausted forcontrolling the movementsof the body of mercury m, as will be explainedI more'fully.

.One of tlie resistance wires of each mercury-contact device, isconnected with the common return V conductor '1. Associated with saidconductor fore and aft, is an adances to corresponding switch apparatusor 7 push buttons 0' 0 c and 0*, preferably situated upon a diagramboard A, Fig. 111. Thus the circuit through the measuring instrument 3,is adapted to be closed through any one of said contact appliances, andthe associated measuring instrument either fore or aft. p

It Will be observed that upon the diagram board is shown in plan view A,the relation of the several tanks or water containing compartments uponthe vessel, so that the engineer or oilicer, by pressing thecorresponding button, may at once read in feet and inches uponinstrument 3, the depth of water in any compartment. An additionalpush-button T is provided for'testing the battery, so that theresistance'2 may be adjusted, as by turning the fingerpiece A Suitablyindicated upon the diagram board and associated with the correspondingcontacts are the fore'peak, the after peak and engine room compartmentsand the first to sixth starboard and port compartments, respectively,just as they are arranged in the particular vessel for which the diagramboard is especially designed.

Inasmuch as pipes at are open at the bottom for the free flow of water,it will be seen that the height of the water within the severalcompartments will be substantially that within thecorresponding pipes,and -in consequence, air pressures in the upper portions thereof, willcorrespondingly unbalance the mercury columns in the limbs t t' of thecontact appliances, thereby varying the active resistances of theconductors or electrodes 1 1*, as more or less of their lengths becomeimmersed in the mercury. Consequently, the respective resistances, interms of feet and inches, however, may be read upon the instrument.

Since the more accurate readings are desirable for the lower levels ofthe compartments, preferably the mercury columns are unbalanced bypartially rarefying the air in chamber 25 so that the effect of. thehigh specific gravity of mercury, 13.6, will be partially overcome, andthe body of mercury in the limb t", will fluctuate through a greaterdistance during the initial stages or water levels within thecompartments. For the purpose of minimizing the incidental fluctuationsin the level of the mercury, due to the rolling or pitching of thevessel, have provided the constricted opening t Within the hmb t" of themercurytion with the switching or contact-making appliances associatedwith, and likewise positioned thereon. Thus, the engineer in charge willknow at once, or may be directed from the wheel house, which of the compartments is to be filled 0r emptied, or the height of the Water in anyof such compartmentsmay be directly determined; it being understood thatall of the compartments are.

equipped with suitable electrodes, electrically connected in the mannerindicated by the diagram, and variably connected through the medium of abody of mercury under the influence of air pressure.

Inasmuch as my improved mercury-contact is not actuated directly by thewater pressure, and may be situated conveniently adjacent to the tank,it is open to ready inspection, adjustment and repair, as opposed.

to devices which operate directly by water pressure, and in consequence,must be located within or near the bottom of a tank.

For the purpose of obtaining closer readings, and afiording a moresubstantial mercury-contact appliance, I have devised' the structureshown in Fig. II, and indicated in the after compartments of thediagram, Fig. I.

As before, the connected pipe a, has an opening at the bottom,permitting the water to nassume the same level as in the inclosing taPipe a, however, is of restricted-diameter, and has a differentlyconstructed contact device for hermetically connecting with the topthereof, by means of the tube 1)". This connects with the mercury wellw, which may be formed of steel, wherein is positioned the glass tube w.sealed to the well by means of the stufling box w", while the expansionchamber 10 and a restricted orifice w for the mercury,

are provided, whose purposes have previously been explained inconnection with the contact device of Fig. IV. 1 l The area of themercury body, between the walls of well 11) and the tube to, is socalculated as to be materially less than, or approximately one-half that.ofthe connected pipe 0,, for the purpos of securing an increasedsensitiveness of the mercury. within the-tube w, through thedisproportionate columns of contained air. The cock w is provided forcontrolling the expansion chamber to. I

The well w is connected directly to one This is hermetically side of theindicating circuit for establishing electrical contact with thecontained body ofmercury m, while within the tube w is an insulating'rodw spirally wound with a resistance conductor 10, forming the electrodefor insuring the electrical variation in the circuit. This resistanceconductor is connected with the opposite side of the cir cuit, asindicated in Fig. I.

\Vith the device described, it will be seen that the movement of themercury column within the tube w, will be'proportionate to the change ofair pressure within connected pipe a, being dependent in turn upon theheight of the water within said pipe, and by varying the relative areasof the pipe and of the space within the well w, the movement of themercury body may be correspondingly proportioned to the movement of thewater.

In the contact appliance just described,

the mercury body is relatively small, and is normally contained withinthe inclosing steel casing or well. It isnot subjected to the action ofthe water, and its movement may be regulated by the rarefaction orcompression of the air within the expansion chamber w. Moreover, thedevice is simple and is better adapted for the purpose set forth, thanany other with which I am acquainted. Accordingly, its use where severeservice is to be encountered, is recommended, and the same is adaptableto other purposes beside that specifically set forth herein.

Each of the contact members described is provided with two connectedmercury columns, which oppose or substantially balance each other, andthese may be defined as balanced limbs or branches.

Having now described apparatus embodyment, of a plurality of electricalswitchesadapted individually. to connect therewith, said indicator beingprovided with a diagram whereon said switches are positioned inarrangement to indicate the diflerent water-containing compartments andelectrically-operated water-level appliances respectively associatedwith sand compartments and switches, substantially as set forth.

2. In a water level indicator, the COInblnation with a suitablycalibrated electrical measuring instrument, of a plurality of associatedswitches adapted individually to connect therewith, said indicator beingprovided with a diagram indicating the watercontaining compartments of avessel; each diagrammed compartment having associated therewith one ofsaid switches and electrically-operated water-level appliancesrespectively associated with said compartments and switches,substantially. as set forth.

3. In a water-level indicating system, the combination with a base orsupport provided with a diagram indicating the several compartments of avessel, and with associated contact appliances respectively positionedupon said diagram, of an electricalmeasuring instrument adapted to beconnected through any of said contact appliances, andelectrically-operated appliances for gaging the water-level, adaptedrespectively'to be associated with the vessels compartments,substantially as set forth. 1

4. A fluid-contact device comprising a tubular receptacle, afl'ordingtwo substantially balanced limbs or branches, a resistance conductor orelectrode therein, a fluid conductive body within said tube adapted toimmerse variable portions of said electrode, and one of the limbs orbranches being sealed against the admission of external air andincluding a sealed expansion chamber containing a gaseous medium underless pressure than the external air, substantially as set forth.

51 A fluid-contact device comprising a tubular receptacle, affording twosubstantially balanced'limbs or branches, a resistance conductor orelectrode therein, a fluid conductive body within said tube adapted toimmerse variable portions of said electrode; said tube being providedwith a constricted passage-way for regulating the movement of the fluidbody, and one of the limbs or branches being sealed against theadmission of external air and including an expansion chamber adapted tocontain a gaseous medium under different pressure than the ex-' ternalair, substantially as set forth.

6. A fluid-contact device comprising a tubular receptacle, afliordingtwo substantially balanced limbs or branches, a resistance con-- ductoror electrode therein, a fluid conductive body within said tube adaptedto immerse variable portions of said electrode,

' one of the. limbs or branches being sealed against the admission ofexternal air' and.

including an expansion chamber adapted to contain a gaseous medium underdifferent pressure than the external air, and a controlling valveassociated therewith for connecting and disconnecting the expansion vchamber, substantially as set forth.

-7. In a water level indicating appliance, the combination with areceptacle hermetically closed. at the top and open at the bot" tomwherein the water is adapted to flow, of a fluid-contact deviceconnected with the upper portion of said receptacle, comprising atubular member afi'ording two substantially balanced limbs or branches,a fluid conductive body sealing the "same, and an electrode adapted tobe variably immersed by said fluid body, whereby the electricalresistance through the device may be altered bythe air pressure withinone limb of said contact-device, substantially as set forth.

8. In a water level indicating appliance, the combination with areceptacle hermetically closed at the top and open at the bottomandafiording relatively small containing capacity, wherein the water isadapted to flow, of a fluid-contact device connected with the upperportion of said receptacle, comprising a tubular Well afiordingsubstantially two balanced limbs or branches having predetermined orcalculated volume proportionate to the volume of the receptacle, aconductive fluid body within the well, and an associated electrodeadapted to be variably immersed by said fluid body,

whereby the electrical resistance through the device may bedisproportionately altered by the air pressure within one limb of saidtubular well and the connected receptacle, substantially as set forth.

9. In a contact appliance of the class described, the combination with atubular well, of a communicating tube partially filling the same andprovided with a restricted orifice in its lower portion, a fluidconductive body therein, an electrode positioned within the tube andwith which said conductive body is adapted to make variable contact, andmeans for applying variable pressure to the surface of the conductivebody, whereby its contact with the electrode is varied, substantially asset forth. j

10. In a water-level indicating appliance, the combination with. areceptacle hermetically closed at the top and open at the bot-,

ALLYN B. WALTON. 1. 5.

. Witnesses:

J. M. Jonns, J. A. Cozon.

